Category Archives: Knowledge

West Coast Swing History

Here is a brief outline of our understanding of West Coast Swing history that we have assembled through various workshops and personal research into the subject. To figure out where you’re going, it’s helpful to know where you come from.

‘There is only 2 styles of Swing… good and bad.’ – Dean Collins

West Coast Swing in the early days – 1930’s-1950’s

West Coast Swing is born out of competition Swing dancing. Lindy dancers used 6 count ‘Push’ and ‘Pass’ patterns to reset phrasing after dancing a ‘Swingout’ (the origin for ‘Whip’) to an hit an accent on 1, 2. At some stage teh 6 counts became more WWII had a huge impact on how the dance travelled further around the world. It then morphed into regional forms of Swing such as, Lindy Hop – Jump Swing – Flying Lindy – Balboa – Bal Swing – West Coast Swing – Dallas Push – Houston Whip. Imperial Swing – Western Swing – Country Swing – Carolina Shag – Collegiate Shag – St Louis Shag – Hand Dance. East Coast Swing – DC Hand dance – Rock n Roll- Ballroom Jive – Skip Jive – Modern Jive – Boogie Woogie – Swedish Bug and more.

The lost years

Arthur Murray studios taught a version of WCS at the time known as Western Swing.  the dance started from closed position and after the ‘throwout’ began with a walk, walk for the follower. The Golden State Dance Teachers Association (GSDTA) began teaching the walk steps, counts 1 and 2. It also replaced Lauré Haile’s Coaster Step with an “Anchor Step” around 1961. “West Coast swing” as a synonym for “Western swing” appears in a 1961 dance book. Also, in an advertisement by Skippy Blair in 1962 but wasn’t incorporated into mainstream swing circles until the late 1960s. With limited media resources and travel not yet accessible to everyone. All the regional styles are still developing independent from each other.

End of the Century – 1980’s-1990’s

This period of WCS is when dancers started to travel across the USA to attend National conventions. 1977 the first US Open Championships held in Las Vegas and won by Michael & Amber Cross. In 1982 then held, in California and Lance Shermoen & Mary-Ann Nunez were the winners. Since then, there has been many impressions left on the community by it’s champions. Who each had their own personalities and styles. Jack Carey & Annie Hirsch – Lance Shermoen & Mary-Ann Nunez – Wayne & Sharlot Bott – Johnathon Bixby & Silvia Sykes. Sonny Watson – Kelly Casanova – Debbie Rasey-Boz – Robert Royston & Laureen Baldovi-Mason. Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szekely – Mario Robau & Carmen Scarborough – Barry Durand & Dawn Garrish.  All deserve credit for inspiring and steering the community with their amazing talents. Not to forget the Shaggers. Charlie Womble & Jackie McGee – Sam & Lisa West – Micheal & LeeAnn Norris. They have also made a huge impact on the community and the way that we dance West Coast Swing today.

West Coast Swing – Last 20 years

Has seen an explosion of WCS dancing all over the world.  With technology and affordable air travel bringing us closer together. Events like Swing Diego and Boogie by the Bay have helped to showcase the top WCS dancers to a much wider audience. This has inspired so many new people to get involved with WCS. Music has been such a big a part of what has made WCS more accessible to more people. You can dance WCS to any 4/4 timing. That doesn’t always mean its a good song to dance to, but it means that everyone will find something they like. Modern day dance heroes have played a huge role in transferring the ideas of WCS on a global scale. Couples such as Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann – Kyle Redd & Sarah-Vann Drake are most peoples inspiration for getting into WCS.   Many modern styles of music are suitable for WCS and will make sure it continues to live in popular culture. We can only see WCS becoming more popular as dance style that fits so many different types of people.

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What is West Coast Swing?

West Coast Swing is a dance from California, USA. Born from Lindy Hop and danced to an array of musical styles. Characterised by a distinctive, elastic look that results from basic extension/compression techniques. Danced on a ‘Slot’, (a rectangular space on the dance floor). The Follower dancing forward and backward in this space. Whilst the Leader dances on and off the slot depending on the pattern. The basic moves in the dance are 6 & 8 count combinations of Double and Triple rhythm units i.e. 1 2, 3&4, 5&6 or 1 2, 3&4, 5 6, 7&8.

Moving beyond the basics. The dance allows for both partners to improvise steps while dancing patterns together.  Making West Coast Swing a dance with endless opportunities for improvisation and musicality.

West Coast Swing Today

Is very different from in the 1930’s. The evolution of WCS has paralleled popular music and culture. Which is why WCS has continued to grow in popularity over the last 90 years. In the 1980’s, National dance competitions drew dancers together from all over the US. For the first time they brought together their regional versions of swing dancing. This was a key time for growth in the community with many Pro’s sharing knowledge and style. Houston Whip, Dallas Push, Carolina Shag, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Boogie Woogie.

All these swing styles that contribute to todays hybrid version of West Coast Swing. Other forms of dance are also interwoven into WCS, such as, Hustle, Tango, Salsa, Zouk, Latin, Ballroom & Hip Hop. Think Hustle whip, Telemark Scroll or Upper body styling for some examples. A constant evolution is a part of the fabric of WCS. Driven by it’s champions and every single person that steps onto the dance floor.  There is inspiration all around us that you can use in west coast swing dancing. The wide variety of music helps aide in the limitless creativity within this dance.

West Coast Swing Community

The community of WCS dancers around the world reaches far and wide. You’ll find a welcoming smile everywhere you go. We’re forever delighted by the talents that are present in WCS dancers around the world. You can go to almost any part of the world and find a budding WCS scene and the online WCS community is as rich as real world. With many websites, forums, groups and social media pages to keep you on the pulse of the worldwide vibe.

Where did it come from?

Read our West Coast Swing History page.

What are the 5 basic moves of West Coast Swing?

Didn’t we just say that there are 3 core patterns? but there are 5 basic moves… (made up from the 3 core patterns, 2 Passes, 2 pushes and a whip).

Here they are,

Left Side Pass – A 6 six count pattern. Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step, Tri-ple Step timing. Follower passes Leaders left side.

Sugar Tuck – A 6 six count pattern.Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step, Tri-ple Step timing where the follower moves up to the leader and Leader turns Follower.

Under Arm Pass – A 6 six count pattern. Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step, Tri-ple Step timing. Leader lifts hand and Follower passes Leaders right side going under the arm.

Sugar Push – A 6 six count pattern. Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step, Tri-ple Step timing. Follower moves up to the Leader and returns.

The Basic Whip – An 8 count pattern. Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step, Walk, Walk, Tri-ple Step timing.  Follower passes the Leader twice.

West Coast Swing Competitions

Swing dancers have always held competitions. In West Coast Swing they are most often improvised with the partner selection made at random.  Jack Carey, a founding member of the WSDC was the creator of the concept of ‘Jack & Jill’ where leaders and followers enter the category independently and partnered up at random in the heats and finals. This is a true test of a ’Social dancers’ abilities as they only succeed in competition by being able to adapt to many partners and many styles of music.   There are alsoStrictly, Classic, Showcase, Teams divisions within WCS competitions.

It was from Lindy Hop competitions that WCS was born and competition has been a natural catalyst for WCS as a whole ever since.  A ‘Jam’ circle is familiar to all swing styles and is where you bring out your ‘best’ stuff. These iconic moves get passed down from generation to generation and have become the foundation of social dance moves that get danced every night of the week in clubs everywhere. Organisations like the World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) and NASDE – National Association of Swing Dance Events offer the chance for dancers to graduate through a ranking in J&J’s and a points accumulation tour for routine dancers.

Modern West Coast Swing

In 2005 the world as a whole got a little smaller when YouTube launched and was soon followed by a huge West Coast Swing boom in Europe, Australia and Asia and ever since, WCS has been impacted by International Instructors/dancers who’ve had much success at many levels in competition. There are now multiple European Pro’s touring the WCS scene. WCS festivals and events are happening almost every weekend of the year supporting an array of West Coast Swing professional dancers, services and products.There is still a strong connection to the dance that migrated across the US from New York to LA just under 100 years ago, but like those great cities, things have changed.

When people first danced WCS it was modern, and in the 1960’s when it first came to Europe, it was modern then too. Now we are in the 21st century and there has even been discussion of actually changing the name to Modern Swing.Whether the name changes or not, WCS will always be Modern because it is not tied to a time period, nor is it attached to a particular cultural movement.But it has been a constantly changing reflection of a culture that once was exclusive to North America but is now shared by the whole world.

What’s next?

Who knows what is next for WCS? No-one can know for sure but it is likely to keep adapting and evolving to stay a part of contemporary culture.  It’s going to be an exciting journey and we’ll be there to experience it. Sharing our knowledge, insights and observations to help encourage the next generation of West Coast Swing dancers to thrive.

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Learn WCS for FREE!

In addition to the 5 basic moves video we offer a Free membership to our Level2 Subscription.  Sign up with your email at our website and get access to more than 20 free WCS class videos.